The struggling London club are desperate to turn round their depressing run of form, and with fan unrest growing, they want to make a statement when the transfer market opens again in the New Year.

England star Sturridge is top of their list, and they are prepared to pay big money to bring in the proven goal-scorer, in an attempt to provide the finishing power that has been sorely missing this season.

Many fans feel the Reds should listen to offers for the former Chelsea and Manchester City man if it gets to the £25m level, but Kop boss Jurgen Klopp will slam the door shut on any player – bar Mamadou Sakho – trying to exit in January.

Jurgen Klopp is ready to block any move for the England striker (Photo: Getty)

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Sturridge has started just four Premier League games this season, and only once in the past two months, but Liverpool are facing a striker shortage in January with Sadio Mane on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

And that will see Klopp say no to even an attempt to take his striker on a short-term loan period when the window opens, especially because Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho will not be fit by then, after being ruled out for five weeks with an ankle ligament injury.

Danny Ings is also sidelined for the rest of the season, and Adam Lallana is only just returning after injury, leaving the German coach with few options in January.

Sturridge has been restricted to a bit-part role at Anfield this season (Photo: Clive Brunskill)

In fact, he will not only spurn West Ham’s advances, but could also look to add to his squad rather than deplete it, with a wide player capable of operating in a front three high on his list of priorities.

Sturridge has been disappointed with his lack of opportunities this season and there have been some murmurs of discontent within his camp, but he is likely to get a real chance over the next two months, in the absence of Coutinho and then Mane.

That means he won’t force the issue. He is currently recovering from a minor calf strain, and should be available for the weekend visit to Bournemouth, when Lallana is also expected to return after a two week absence.

It will still not stop West Ham trying to break the bank to land the goalscorer they so desperately need, but they are unlikely to be persuasive enough to prise the £150,000 a week striker away from Anfield.